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DeSoto council accepts $150,000 GLO grant to update zoning and subdivision codes
Summary
Council unanimously approved accepting a $150,000 reimbursable grant from the Texas General Land Office to comprehensively update the city's zoning and subdivision ordinances and codify them into a single development code; procurement and community engagement are planned in the coming months.
Ahmed Alkasey, the city's director of development services, asked council to accept a $150,000 General Land Office (GLO) grant to update DeSoto's zoning and subdivision ordinances and codify them into a single development code. "The scope is basically we're trying to get this money from the state so that we can comprehensively update the zoning regulations and subdivision ordinances and then codify them into one development code," Alkasey said.
Alkasey described the grant as reimbursable and without a city match; staff plans to advertise a consultant procurement and select a consultant in late summer with an update to council in early fiscal 2027. He said the update will implement the city's 2024 comprehensive plan, define land-use categories such as "neighborhood mixed use" and "destination mixed use," and aim to make the code clearer and easier to use for residents and developers. "We will engage residents, commissions and boards; city council will be heavily involved," he told the dais.
Councilmembers asked about scope and coordination with economic development; Alkasey said ordinance updates will address zoning and land use (not fee-setting) and will be coordinated with the economic development department and planning/zoning commission. The measure to accept the GLO grant passed unanimously.
Next steps include issuing the RFP/RFQ, selecting a consultant, and returning to council with milestones for ordinance drafting and public outreach.
